Rancho Santa Margarita Car Accident Lawyer Says: Maintain Detailed Records of "Pain & Suffering"

Being advised by a knowledgeable Rancho Santa Margarita accident injury attorney can save you a lot of aggravation should you suffer a car accident in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. If you're like most car accident victims, you'll want and need to recover non-economic or "pain and suffering" damages. Car accidents can happen in any city, even in the relatively "safe" master-planned community of Rancho Santa Margarita.

Grim Statistics in a "Safe" City

In 2006, the California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) reported that 62 people were injured in city car crashes. In addition, eight pedestrians and three bicyclists were injured in car accidents. Motorcycle accidents injured two and impaired drivers caused five injuries.

Details Can Convince Skeptical Jurors

Better Rancho Santa Margarita auto accident lawyers will often advise their clients that if they hope to get a fair and adequate pain and suffering damage award, they'll need to convince often skeptical jurors of the severity of their non-economic damages.

Details are a key factor. But keep in mind that if your case goes to trial, it may be six or seven months before your claim is presented to a jury. Which is why it's so important to keep a detailed record of how your injuries have affected your everyday activities. The fact is, you may not recall just how painful some basic tasks were for you. Things like preparing meals, putting away the dishes or bathing. Some other things you may want to jot down are the visits to relatives you passed on, difficulty attending Sunday worship, driving your children to school, missing their games and other events.

Keep a Log

The best Rancho Santa Margarita car collision lawyers advise that keeping a log of your pain and suffering will help remind you of how many sacrifices you had to make (and often continue to make) as a result of your injuries. Your log should include any discomfort, anxiety, difficulty in sleeping or in staying awake, and other problems caused by your car accident. You should record the emotional effects of missed activities, vacations, weddings, holiday activities and family events. The point is, pain and suffering are sometimes difficult to prove, which is why detailed records are so vital in negotiating a fair and reasonable settlement amount.

Seek Out the Best Lawyer

It's worth your while to find a skilled Rancho Santa Margarita car crash lawyer. One who offers no charge, no pressure consultations. Someone who can help you understand the things that every car accident victims should know.

Find more good tips by reading "The Seven Fatal Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Personal Injury Claim" by California personal injury attorney John Bisnar. The book is free to accident victims--just go to www.BestAttorneyBooks.com to get a copy sent to you, or you can buy one at www.Amazon.com. Please see other BISNAR | CHASE Orange County car accident lawyers.

Be on the Hit-and-Run Lookout

BISNAR | CHASE, in conjunction with WeTip, a leading anonymous crime reporting service and law enforcement advocacy non-profit organization, is launching a program intended to wipe out hit-and-runs in the state of California by offering rewards for tips leading to the arrest and felony conviction of hit-and-run drivers. See Hit-and-Run Reward for more details.

BISNAR | CHASE 2006-2010 Super Lawyers names outstanding lawyers from more than 60 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. BISNAR | CHASE has received this award for five consecutive years. Brian Chase was named one of the 2010 Top 50 Orange County Lawyers.